Amsterdam’s mayor wants action on football hooligans

Amsterdam’s mayor Eberhard van der Laan wants changes in the rules on foreign fans at international football matches, following the arrest of 76 Ajax supporters in the capital on Wednesday night.


The supporters were looking for confrontations with Manchester United fans, in town for tonight’s key Europa League match. According to some reports, a number of Manchester fans without tickets for the game have also travelled to the city.
Elsewhere in the city, 54 Anderlecht supporters were sent home after causing trouble on the Rembrandtplein. According to local television station AT5, they were planning to join forces with the Ajax fans against the English.
Travel plans
Van der Laan said he wants changes in the way foreign fans are allowed to travel, saying they should be taken directly to the stadium to avoid potential run-ins with rival supporters.
The mayor has also introduced emergency stop and search measures for the entire city centre and the route to the stadium in the suburb of Zuidoost.

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